Simple Shotmaking

How To Be A Complete Player

By Tom Stickney, PGA, With Mike Chwasky, Photos By Warren Keating

Ball Position

Ball Back To properly position the ball back in your stance, play it off the middle of your right peck. I recommend this position any time you want to produce a low-trajectory shot or one that moves from left to right. Don’t play it too far back, however.

Ball Centered A ball that’s properly positioned in the middle of the stance should be placed off the middle of the sternum. If you want to produce a medium trajectory, this is the proper position. A fade or draw can be played from here.

Ball Forward To properly position the ball forward in your stance, place it opposite your left armpit, or just inside your left heel. This position lends itself to high-trajectory shots and facilitates a draw. But don’t play the ball forward of your left instep.

Spine Tilt

Spine Back In a “normal” address position, you should have just slightly more weight on your back leg than your front, but with the spine tilted away from the target, you’ll have significantly more weight on your back foot than normal. This position at address will tend to promote a more ascending strike, and a high shot will almost always result. Be careful not to tilt back too much, or you’ll risk hitting some bad hooks and could develop a serious back injury as well.

Spine Neutral Due to the rear hand being lower on the grip than the forward hand, your spine will tilt away from the target at address even when you feel you’re in a neutral position. This slight bend away from the target places approximately 55 percent of your body weight on your rear foot, which is necessary with a driver to promote favorable launch conditions and adequate carry. This should be your standard address position because it allows you execute all types of shots.

Spine Forward Hitting the ball on a lower trajectory than normal requires a spine angle that can range from centered to slightly forward leaning (toward the target). This alteration in spine tilt causes your body weight to shift toward your forward foot at address, which hinders your ability to make a long, flowing backswing. Instead you’ll feel yourself making a shorter backswing with less wrist hinge. Don’t lean too far forward, or you won’t be able to rotate at all.